Nikita Haikin has a ‘good chance’ of sealing a move to Premier League strugglers Everton with his contract at Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt expiring in December, the goalkeeper’s former coach Dmitry Gulenkov tells Sport24.
Just when Everton thought that England’s Jordan Pickford and Everton’s Jordan Pickford were threatening to become one and the same, then came Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Bournemouth.
Pickford spilled the ball straight at Marcus Tavenier’s feet with just 16 minutes on the clock, gifting the hosts a lead they would not relinquish while helping condemn Frank Lampard’s side to a sixth defeat in eight games across all competitions.
Do not presume that Haikin, then, would be at Goodison Park merely to make up the numbers.
Should Jordan Pickford be nervous as Everton eye Nikita Haikin?
According to Sport24 and The Telegraph, the Israel-born former Russia U21 international could join Everton on a free transfer in the New Year; Lampard having previously held talks with the 27-year-old during his time in the Chelsea dugout.
And Gulenkov believes that, after winning two Eliteserien titles with Bodo/Glimt while helping put the team from the Arctic Circle on the map in Europe, Haikin can make the step up to a more high-profile competition.
“During three years in Norway, Nikita has grown enough in terms of his level. (Can he) play in England? He has a good chance to play at Everton,” Gulenkov claims. “Of course, there is an opportunity to play in England. Everything is possible.”
The likelihood is that, should he arrive, Haikin would initially take Asmir Begovic’s place on the Everton bench. The 35-year-old Bosnian is expected to leave Goodison Park when his deal runs out next summer.
A relegation-threatened Everton, meanwhile, are reportedly eyeing up Sporting Lisbon wonderkid Abdul Fatwa Issahaku. Inter Milan’s Germany international Robin Gosens is another potential January target.
Lampard’s future is also in doubt. Per HBVL, former Toffees boss Roberto Martinez is in contention for a return to his old stomping ground. Martinez’s contract with the Belgian national team expires after the Qatar World Cup.
Everton are now 17th in the Premier League table; that terrific 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace feeling more and more like a false dawn.
“The fans have a right to be disappointed,” Lampard told Sky Sports on Saturday. “Before that, we’ve been going OK. And then they see that there are performances that they don’t like.
“So when they see after Palace, they have to voice their opinion. And their opinions were right today.”
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